The operations manager for the group which owns South Norwood Medical Centre is hoping for a 'seamless' merger after it was announced it would be closing.

The medical centre on South Norwood Hill will close its doors for the final time on Saturday, June 30, a decision made after Dr Pradeep Srivastava retired after 37 years of being a Croydon GP.

Following this, Parchmore Medical Centre, on Parchmore Road, Thornton Heath, will take on all 2,700 of South Norwood's patients in a merger that is being described as a "consolidation of the workforce".

Operations manager Brian Dickens said: "We have now had four consultations for patients and staff to prepare them for the move, and all the feedback we have received so far has been very positive.

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"Unfortunately we couldn't keep the South Norwood practice open as GPs simply don't want to take on single-role sites anymore, and Dr Srivastava retiring meant we didn't really have any other options."

"We would like to take this opportunity to welcome patients to Parchmore Medical Centre and reassure them that they will continue to have seamless access to high quality local GP services with us."

South Norwood Medical Practice is closing on Saturday, June 30. Drs Geeta (left) and Pradeep Srivastava outside their surgery (Image: David Cook)

When asked whether current patients, particularly elderly patients who may have to travel further for appointments now, had voiced any concerns, Mr Dickens admitted he was pleased with the lack of uproar the decision had caused.

"We haven't had a lot of concerns voiced at all,"he said. "We have taken a close look at how we can care for all of our most vulnerable patients, and now that we have more doctors overall, we should be able to improve our care.

"Because of the great service we have given to our patients over the years, a lot of them have said they are very happy to travel a bit further if it means they get the same level of care."